Squeeze printer

ABSTRACT

The rockable printing sectors of a printing mechanism are provided with arcuate outwardly yieldable type sections having detenting notches therein. After the sectors have been differentially set relative to a printing line, a combined aligning and printing member is moved outwardly to align the sectors and to thereafter flex the same sufficiently to impact and/or squeeze the type characters against a paper tape and printing platen.

I United States Patent 1 1 1111 3,878,779 Clary 51 Apr. 22, 1975 SQUEEZE PRINTER 3589.494 6/1971 010655 l97/l8 3,640,369 2/l972 Rol h [75] Invent John Clary Pasadena- Cahf- 3.664.259 5/1972 Heihkle 101/95 x Assignee: Addmaster corporafi S Kollcr Gabriel, Calif.

Primary Examiner-Edgar S. Burr [22] F'led: 1973 Assistant E.\'aminerEdward M. Coven [2]] A l N 414,089 Attorney, Agent, or FirmFred N. Schwend 52 us. c1. 101/99; 101/95; 101/9321; [57] ABSTRACT 197/53; 197/55 The rockable prmtmg sectors of a prlntmg mechanlsm 511 Int. Cl B4lj 1/30 are Provided with arcuate outwardly yieldable type 5 n w f Search U 101/93 95 99 110, sections having detenting notches therein. After the 101/45; 197/18, 53, 54 sectors have been differentially set relative to a printing line, a combined aligning and printing member is 5 References Cited moved outwardly to align the sectors and to thereafter flex the same sufficiently to impact and/or squeeze the UNITED STATES PATENTS type characters against a paper tape and printing 441.257 ll/l890 Schuckcrs l97/53 platen 3,169,474 2/l965 Howard lOI/l 10 3,442,365 5/l969 Ragland et a] 197/53 4 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures SQUEEZE PRINTER BACKGROUNDOF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This invention relates to data printing mechanisms and has particular reference to squeeze type printers.

2. Description of the Prior Art Many data printers embody pivoted printing sectors or wheels arranged side-by-side. Type characters are spaced along the peripheries of such sectors against which a paper tape is imprinted. the particular characters being imprinted depending on the differential setting of the sectors. In order to properly align the selected type characters to be printed along a printing line. an alignment member is generally moved into engagement with spaced detenting formations or notches on the sectors after the latter have-been set and prior to the imprinting action. Heretofore. problems have been encountered in causing the alignment'member to accurately align all the printing sectors due to minute variations in dimensions of the sectors and associated parts or due to necessary tolerances in such dimensions. For example, the alignment member may firmly seat in the detenting notches of certain of the sectors to accurately align the same but not properly seat in others. resulting in misalignment of the latter.

The above problem has been solved by the invention disclosed and claimed in my US. Pat. No. 3,621,777. issued on Nov. 23. 1971 by providing yieldable areuate type sections on the sectors. these sections having detenting formations engageable by an aligning member which is movable radially outward from the sectors. The aligning-member not only accurately aligns the type characters directly adjacent the printing line but also forms a solid base to support the type sections as print hammers are impelled toward the sectors. This construction enables relatively large tolerances and dimensional errors'in the sectors and yet insures accurate alignment of the printed type characters.

The above noted printing mechanism works satisfactory. However, the printing hammers. upon striking the paper against the type sections create objectionable noise. Also. such printer requires a relatively large number of parts since a hammer and associated mechanism must be provided for each denominational order of the printer.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to the present invention. a stationarily mounted printing platen is located directly above the yieldable type sections and after the sectors have been differentially set to selected type character positions, the aligner member is moved outwardly to first engage the detenting formations on the type sections to properly align the sectors. The aligning member is then further moved outwardly to flex the type sections suffi ciently to imprint the paper against the printing platen.

The resulting printer greatly reduces the noise normally resulting from the printing operation and also reduces the number of parts required. Also, since print hammers and associated mechanism are eliminated. the printer can be made more compact and less expensive.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a sectional elevation view of a data printer embodying a preferred form of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a sectional view illustrating the drive mecha' nism for the printing sectors and alignment bar.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged transverse sectional view through a part of the printer and is taken substantially DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring to the drawings, the printer disclosed therein comprises a plurality of plastic printing sectors arranged in side-by-side relation. The sectors are pivotally mounted independent of each other on a rockable support shaft 12 rotatably mounted in bearings 13 supported by spaced printer side frames. one of which is shown at 14.

Each sector 11 has a somewhat flexible areuate type section 15 which is integrally connected to the main body of the sector by end portions 16 and 17 of greater flexibility than that of the main part of the section 15. Printing type characters 18 progressing in value from a zero type character 18a are spaced along the length of each type section 15.

Means are provided to yieldably advance the various type sectors 11 clockwise from their illustrated home positions until differentially arrested in positions presenting selected type characters 18 at a printingpoint 2]. After a printing impression, the sectors are returned counterclockwise to the home position. For this purpose. a cyclically operable drive shaft 22 is provided which is suitably driven clockwise one revolution for each cycle of the printer. An arm 23 carried by shaft 22 is pivotally connected at 24 to one end of a link 25 which. in turn. is pivotally connected at 26 to an arm 27 attached to the sector support shaft 12.

Cam arms, one of which is shown at 28, are fastened to the shaft 12 and carry the opposite ends of a bail rod 30 which extends through openings 31 in the sectors 11 and frictionally engages spring tails 32 formed integrally with the sectors. Thus. as the drive shaft 22 and arm 23 move through the first half of a revolution. link 25 and arm 27 rock the shaft 12 and therefore bail rod 30 through approximately 90 to yieldably drive the various sectors 11 correspondingly.

Means are provided to selectively arrest the different type sectors so as to present selected type characters 18 at the printing line 21. For this purpose. a stop pawl 33 is provided for each sector. The pawls are independently pivoted on a rod 34 and are normally held out of blocking engagement with spaced stop teeth 35 on the sectors by compression toggle springs 36. The latter are each pivoted at one end 37 to the associated pawl 33 and at the other end 38 to a solenoid housing 40 supported by frame rods 41.

Electromagnetic coils 42 are mounted in the housings 40. Each coil 42 surrounds one leg of a U-shaped magnet core 43. Upon energization of a coil 42, an armature 44 pivoted at 45 is attracted upwardly to the core and in so doing forces a rod 46 upward to rock the associated pawl into blocking relation with whichever sector tooth 35 is next adjacent the pawl at the time of energization.

A paper tape 47 is guided endwise through a guide channel 48, between a stationary printing platen 50 and an ink ribbon 51. and is deflected upwardly by a concave guide surface 52 formed on a tear-off member 53.

The printing platen 50 comprises a rigid bar 54 supported at its opposite ends by the printer frame plates. i.e., l4, and has secured along the lower edge thereof a strip 55 of soft rubber or similar elastomeric material.

Suitable paper line spacing means (not shown) is provided to push the paper 47 endwise through channel 48 and past the platen 50 following each printing operation.

A combined aligning and printing bar 56 extends through the openings 31 in the sectors 11 and is guided for vertical movement. toward and away from the platen 50 in guide slots 57 formed in the printer side frames, i.e. l4.

Cam formations 58 are formed on the cam levers. i.e 28, and are arranged to engage the rod 56 after the various sectors 11 have been differentially arrested by theinstop pawls 33 to cam the rod 56 upwardly into centering engagement with detent notches 60 formed in the sectors 11. Such notches are in radial alignment with respective ones of the type characters 18. In centering the notches 60, the bar 56 accurately aligns the type characters 18 at the printing line 21 regardless of any clearances or dimensional tolerances in the sectors and support shaft 12. Thereafter, the rod 56 flexes the type sections 15 outwardly causing the selected type characters 18 to press upwardly against the printing ribbon 51; paper tape 47 and platen 50 so as to transfer an imprint of such type characters onto the paper tape The camming levers 28 each have a dwell portion 61 which is concentric with the shaft 12 to permit a small amount of overtravel of the levers 28 while the selected type characters are in printing contact with the paper tape 47.

Preferablygthe throw of bar 56 is such as to slightly overdrive the type characters into the relatively soft rubber strip 51 in order to insure an adequate imprint without requiring precision adjustment of the parts. Thus. the rubber tends to expand or bulge laterally between adjacent type characters and, in order to prevent this from interfering with the quality of print. grooves 62 are'preferably formed in the strip 55 at locations intermediate adjacent sectors 11 to enable lateral expan- 4 sion of one portion of the strip without effecting an adjacent portion.

In lieu of the stationary platen 50, a stationarily located rotary platen roller capable of feeding the paper could be employed.

1 claim:

1. A data printer comprising a plurality of sectors arranged side-by-side and independently pivotal on a common axis.

arcuate sections extending concentrically of said axis and supported by said sectors.

said arcuate sections being flexible radially outwardly of said axis.

type characters spaced along the outer periphery of each of said arcuate sections,

detenting formations spaced along the inner periphery of each of said arcuate sections, an elongated printing platen extending axially adjacent the type characters of all said arcuate sections at a fixed radial distance from said common axis,

means for guiding a record medium intermediate said printing platen and said sections. means for differentially advancing said sectors independently of each other about said axis whereby to present certain of said type characters to said printing platen,

a single elongated aligning member extending under said arcuate sections and parallel to said axis. and

means for moving said aligning member radially outwardly from said axis whereby to engage overlying ones of said detenting formations to thereby index said type characters into axial alignment and also to flex said sections outwardly to impress said record medium against said printing platen.

2. A data printer as described in claim 1 wherein said detenting formations are radially aligned with respective ones of said type characters.

3. A data printer as described in claim 1 wherein said printing platen is stationary relative to said axis.

4. A data printer as described in claim 1 wherein said arcuate sections comprise end portions having greater flexibility than the flexibility of the remaining portions of said-sections. 

1. A data printer comprising a plurality of sectors arranged side-by-side and independently pivotal on a common axis, arcuate sections extending concentrically of said axis and supported by said sectors, said arcuate sections being flexible radially outwardly of said axis, type characters spaced along the outer periphery of each of said arcuate sections, detenting formations spaced along the inner periphery of each of said arcuate sections, an elongated printing platen extending axially adjacent the type characters of all said arcuate sections at a fixed radial distance from said common axis, means for guiding a record medium intermediate said printing platen and said sections, means for differentially advancing said sectors independently of each other about said axis whereby to present certain of said type characters to said printing platen, a single elongated aligning member extending under said arcuate sections and parallel to said axis, and means for moving said aligning member radially outwardly from said axis whereby to engage overlying ones of said detenting formations to thereby index said type characters into axial alignment and also to flex said sections outwardly to impress said record medium against said printing platen.
 1. A data printer comprising a plurality of sectors arranged side-by-side and independently pivotal on a common axis, arcuate sections extending concentrically of said axis and supported by said sectors, said arcuate sections being flexible radially outwardly of said axis, type characters spaced along the outer periphery of each of said arcuate sections, detenting formations spaced along the inner periphery of each of said arcuate sections, an elongated printing platen extending axially adjacent the type characters of all said arcuate sections at a fixed radial distance from said common axis, means for guiding a record medium intermediate said printing platen and said sections, means for differentially advancing said sectors independently of each other about said axis whereby to present certain of said type characters to said printing platen, a single elongated aligning member extending under said arcuate sections and parallel to said axis, and means for moving said aligning member radially outwardly from said axis whereby to engage overlying ones of said detenting formations to thereby index said type characters into axial alignment and also to flex said sections outwardly to impress said record medium against said printing platen.
 2. A data printer as described in claim 1 wherein said detenting formations are radially aligned with respective ones of said type characters.
 3. A data printer as described in claim 1 wherein said printing platen is stationary relative to said axis. 